Inaugurated Scott issues orders

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott issued four new executive orders today, immediately after being inaugurated as Florida's 45th governor. Two of the orders could have an immediate impact on the state government's day-to-day operations, while the others appear to be more focused on the future.

Perhaps the most impactful of the four will be Executive Order No. 11-01, which puts an immediate freeze on all new rules and regulations. It also creates a new governmental body, the Office of Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform, which will review all new rules, agency practices, and contracts before they go into effect.

Executive Order No. 11-02 requires state agencies to verify the employment eligibility of all state employees and contractors using E-Verify, a federal system operated by the Department of Homeland Security. Anyone employed under a state contract must also have his employment verified, the order says.

Executive Order No. 11-03 calls for a review of both ethics practices and transparency within the Governor's office, while Executive Order No. 11-04 “reaffirms” Scott's policies on non-discrimination.